Automatic type-setting laundry-marking machine.



No. 766,255. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904' T. J. HUME.

AUTOMATIC TYPE SETTING LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 2. 1903.

NO MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

Envewtoz 13% hwoaoo No. 766,255. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904 T. J. HUME. AUTOMATIC TYPE SETTING LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 2, 1903.

NO MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIIJ fl Q3 M ii No. 766,255. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. T. J. HUME.

AUTOMATIC TYPE SETTING LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 2. 1903.

no MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET a.

( 1 n van for 6 Wi /W 7 amw PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

T. J. HUME. AUTOMATIC TYPE SETTING LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 2. 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 44 NO MODEL.

\J (inventor.

(.9 (Pa- 7 k PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

T. J. HUME.

AUTOMATIC TYPE SETTING LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N0 MODEL.

( luucnfoz UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT Fries.

THOMAS J. HUME, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,255, dated August 2, 1904.

Application iiiel November 2,1903. Serial No. 179,687. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I. THOMAS J. HUME, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of \Vyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Inn provements in Automatic Type-Setting Laundry-Marking Machines, of which the following is a specili *ation.

This invention relates to printing-machines, and has for its object particularly to provide a machine whereby laundrymen may indelibly print or mark symbols or names of their customers upon the goods prior to their being washed.

in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings the machine comprises a plurality of wheels or disks bearing letters and numbers upon portions of their peripheries, other portions of the peripheries of said wheels or disks having suitable teeth by means of which the wheels are rotated to bring the desired letters and numerals into a given line ready to be inked and to thereafter cause an indelible mark to be applied to the goods.

One of the particular objects of the invention, is to provide means whereby the type (by which I mean either letters or numerals or any symbol that may be preferred) may be set by means of finger-keys similar to those employed on type-writing machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character in which the type wheels or disks may be quickly returned to normal position after as many impressions of a given alinement as may be desired have been made upon the goods.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character in which a spacer may be employed, so as to enable certain type-disks to be left in normal position in order to leave a blank space, such as between two names or initials or between a name and a number.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated having means to prevent the operation of the printing mechanism excepting when the goods to be marked are inserted in the proper place.

To these ends the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, substantiallyashereinafterdescribedandclaimed.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention and representing also a collar in position and as having had a name and a number and a mark stamped or printed thereupon. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the machine with the keyboard and the spacing mechanism omitted, a portion of said keyboard being, however, represented in section and with one key in place. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation looking from the lower portion of Fig. 2, the near side of the casing being omitted and the majority of the keys being omitted. Fig. 4: represents a side elevation from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 3, one side of the casing being omitted and all but one of the keys being also omitted. Fig. 5 represents a detail bottom plan view of the inking mechanism looking upward from the line 5 5 in Fig. A. Fig. 6 represents a detail section on line 6 6 of Fig. Fig. 7 represents a rear elevation of the spacing and releasing mechanism. Fig. 8 represents a de tail elevation of one of the pawls hereinafter described.

Similar reference characters indicate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

Mounted upon a suitable base 10 are the two side walls 11, comprising the main portion of what may be termed the outer frame, in which is mounted the shaft 13, upon which the type wheels or disks ll are loosely mounted. The portions of the side walls adjaceut to the disks are curved concentrically with the axis of the shaft 13, and secured upon said curved portions is a plate 12, which for convenience 1 will refer to as the outer key-plate. The disks 1% are provided with type characters 15. In the embodiment of the invention which l prefer said characters include the complete alphabet and also a series of numerals. The disks are also provided with teeth l6 for the purpose hereinafter described and are also provided with hubs 17, mounted on the shaft 13, said hubs serving to properly space the disks from each other and to also form the means for attachment thereto of the inner straight portions 19 of coiled springs 18. As shown in Fig. 3, the straight portions 19 are integral with the coiled or spring portions 18, the inner end of the straight portion of each spring extending underneath and partially around a hub 17 and attached thereto, the tension of the springs 18 having a tendency to rotate the disks in the direction of the arrow (4 in Fig. 3. The outer ends of the springs 18 are attached to a cross-bar 20 of an inner frame the side bars of which are represented at 21. (See Fig. 2.) The inner ends of the side bars 21 of the inner frame are mounted on the shaft 13, and through said sidebars extends a rod or shaft 22, the ends of said rod being secured to the side walls 11 of the outer frame. This rod or shaft 22 serves, in connection with the shaft 13, to hold the inner frame securely in position and also forms the support of certain parts hereinafter described.

Mounted in cars rising from the side bars 21 is a round rod or pivot-pin 23, (see Fig. 3,) and pivoted upon said rod 23 are a series of pawls 2 1, each having its point adapted to engage the teeth 16 of .a disk 14%. Each pawl is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by a spring 25, connecting it with a rod 26, mounted in-ears rising from the side bars 21. The means for releasing these pawls one at a time, so as to permit its disk to be rotated by the contraction of a spring 18, will be described hereinafter.

The keys or push pieces and their supports and the immediate mechanism operated thereby will now be described. A plate 27 inside of and curved to conform to a circle concentric of that of the plate 12 is suitably connected with the frame, so that the two plates 12 and 27 will form the guides for the pins of the keys 28, said pins passing through suitable openings formed in the said plates 12 and 27. The outer ends of the pins are provided with heads 29, which bear letters and preferably numerals, as represented in Fig. 1. Each key 28 is normally pressed upward by a spring 30, confined'between asuitable stoppin 31 and the outer surface of the plate 27. The inner end of each key-pin is bifurcated and straddles a radial plate 32, the said bifurcated end of the key being riveted, brazed, or otherwise secured to said radial plate, so that said plate will partake of the inner and outer movements of the key. Owing to the fact that the inner end of each key is secured to a plate 32, the latter being inside of the curved plate 27, the said radial plate limits outward movement of the key under the influence of the spring 30. The ends of the radial plates 32 extend into suitable guidegrooves or between guide-ribs on the inner walls of the frame-plates 11. By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the keys are arranged in inclined or spiral rows. By comparing this figure with Fig. 3 it will be understood that by this arrangement I am enabled to arrange the radial stop-plates 32 close together, although each of said plates extends across the entire series of disks, as shown in Fig. 2.

Each type wheel or disk 14: (see Fig. 4) is provided with an outwardly-projecting stoplug 33. Whenever a plate 32 has been pushed inward and a type-disk released by its pawl 24 in a manner hereinafter described, the spring 18 of that type-disk will rotate said disk until its stop-lug 33 abuts against the inner edge of the radial stop-plate that has been pushed inward by a key. Since each type-disk is provided With one of these stop-lugs 33, it is essential that the radial stop-plates 32 shall extend across the entire series of disks. The said radial stop-plates are spaced correspondingly with the spacing of the printing-types upon the disks, so that the proper types may be brought to the lower position for printing.

Of course it is to be understood that as soon as a type-disk has been released and partially rotated until its lug 33 has reached the depressed stop-plate 32 the key of the latter may be released and its spring 30 will raise it to its radial stop-plate; but before the said stopplate has risen entirely above the stop-lug 33 the pawl 24: for that type-disk has reengaged another tooth 16, as will be hereinafter described. The type-disk will then be locked in this position by the tension of its spring 18, holding it with the proper tooth engaged by the pawl 2 1.

The means by which the depression of any key will cause the release of one or another of the type disks will now be described. Mounted inside of the series of radial stopplates is a radially-movable frame. By comparing Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the structure of this frame will become apparent. Each end piece of the frame comprises a curved or arc-shaped bar 3 1, the two said bars 3 1, one at each side of the frame, being connected by rods the ends of which are indicated at 35. ing radially inward from the center of each arc-shaped bar 3 1 is an arm 36, having its inner end bifurcated end fitting over the shaft 13, so that the said shaft serves as one of the guides for insuring radial movement for the frame. Each arm 36 near its outer end is formed with a slot 37, which receives a guidepin 38, projecting inward from the side wall of the frame. The said frame is pressed yieldingly outward or in a radial direction against the inner edges of the radial stop-plates 32 by a spring 39 at each end of said frame, said spring being connected to the arm 36, as at 10. It will now be understood that the inner movement of a key not only interposes a stop in the path of movement of a lug 33 of a typedisk, but it also causes an inward movement of the radial frame toward the axes of the disks, no matter What key is depressed. Inward movement of this radial frame is utlllzed Extendto cause the release of the particular pawl 2st of the type-disk that has been selected.

livoted at 11 to a fixed portion of the frame is a lever i2. the lower end of which is bifurcated and engages the pin 10, which projects from the side of the arm 36 and to which the inner end of the spring 39 is connected. There is one of these levers 42 at each side of the machine. and it is to be understood that the pivotpin 11 (shown in Fig. 3) is supported by the side of the frame which has been omitted in said Fig. 3. As stated, there is another lever %2 at the farther side of the machine, also pivoted at 4:1 to the farther side of the frame. The outer ends of the two levers 42 are connected by a rod 13, and therefore Whenever the radial frame moves in and out the rod 13, which connects the two levers 4:2, is oscillated laterally. Said rod L3 is just above the upper ends of the row of pawls 24:, and said rod carries and actuates the pawl-releasing dog, which 1 will now proceed to describe.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4t, and T, the pawl-releasing dog 14.- is bifurcated at its lower end and bestrides the rod $3. The said dog is secured upon a sliding shaft #15, as by a setscrew t6, said shaft being mounted to slide longitudinally in portions of the side pieces of the frame. The said shaft 15, being loosely supported and being round in cross-section, is free to rock or oscillate slightly with the dog at, which is attached thereto. The longitudinal movements of said shaft -.t5 are limited by stop-collars 17, and a spring 18, connected to a pin at), attached at one end to one of the collars i7 and at the other end to a suitable-portion of the frame, has a tendency to slide the shaft or red i5 toward the left in Fig. T when permitted to do so.

The upper end of the dog iil: is formed with a tooth 50, adapted to engage successively the teeth of a ratchet 51. Pivoted to the frontside of the upper end of the dogflis a secondary dog 52, normally pressed laterally or toward the left in Fig. T by a spring 53. \Vhenever the pawl-releasing dog it as a whole is oscillated on and with the sliding shaft 45, as hereinbefore described, the teeth at the upper ends of the dog ii and seondary dog respectively, alternately engage the teeth of the ratchet 51, so to permit the spring 4:8 to shift the sliding shaft i5 and the pawl-releasing dog the space of one tooth of the said ratchet 51. Therefore whenever a key has been depressed and the radial frame moved inward the actuating-rod -i3 lirst causes the pawl-releasing dog to release a pawl from its type-disk, and then upon the return movement of the radial frame and the actuating-rod #13 the dog slips along the distance of one tooth, so as to be in position to actuate the pawl of the next type-disk.

in order that one or more disks may be skipped by the pawl-releasing dog, as when spaces are to be left between initials of a name or between an initial and the surname, 1 provide means whereby the ratchet 51 may be oscillated relatively to the compound dogs instead of the latter being oscillated relatively to the ratchet. For this purpose I mount the said ratchet 51 at the upper ends of two arms 5st, said arms being pivoted at 55 to suitable portions of the frame. One of said arms 54 is provided with a linger-piece 56, and a spring 57 is employed to normally press the arm againsta stop-pin 58, the latter beingin a position to hold the ratchet 51 in the position shown in Fig. 4. Upon depressingthe finger piece or lever 56, however, the ratchet 51 is thrown across from one dog to the other, so as to release it the space of one tooth of the ratchet, thus transferring the pawl-releasing dog from one pawl to the second one beyond without having actuated the intermediate pawl audits type-disk. The sliding shaft T5, to which the dog 4-1 is secured, may be freely pushed to the right in Fig. 7, the secondary dog 52 slipping over the teeth of ratchet 51, and since the latter may he oscillated as many times as desired to permit the pawl-releasing dog to move toward the left in Fig. 7 with a stepby-step movement it will be obvious that any of the type-disks may be selected for operation. The mechanism described constitutes means for spacing the type selected for use.

After the required number of type-disks have been actuated to bring the desired characters in line at the bottom of the series for the printing operation hereinafter described and after repeated operations of said printing mechanism to print such names upon the linen or other goods belonging to a particular customer of the laundryman it becomes necessary to return all of the disks to their original or normal positions prior to the resetting of disks to arrange the name of another customer. I will now proceed to describe the mechanism for returning the typedisks.

Secured to one end of the shaft 13 is a handcrank 59. Also secured to said shaft 13 and within the casing is a yoke comprising side bars 60 and a cross-bar 61, the latter being close to the peripheries of the type-disks and adapted to engage the lugs 33 of such disks as have been operated. The said yoke is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2, with one of the side bars 60 resting upon a fixed lug 62 of the frame, this position of the yoke being caused by a spring 63, coiled upon the shaft 13 and having one end secured to a fixed pin or screw 65 and having the other end bearing against a pin 64, projecting from the side of one of the side bars 60 of the yoke, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and et. \Vhen the crank 59 is operated to swing the yoke from the position shown in Fig. i upward over the disks, the cross-bar 61 of said yoke carries with it all of the disks which have been previously operated to a point limited by the contact of the side bar with stops 66, projecting from the side bars 21 of the inner frame. This is the normal position or position of rest of the machine.

One of the side bars 60 of the yoke is formed with an offset lug 67, adapted during the last portion of the restoring movement of said yoke just described to contact with and depress a long arm 68. (See Fig. 3.) This arm 68 is loosely pivoted on the shaft 13 and at its outer end is engaged with and rests upon the lower curved or hook-shaped end 69 of a lever 70. (See Fig. 7.) The lever 70 is pivoted at 71 to a bracket 72, suitably secured to one of the side plates of the frame 11, and the outer end of said lever 70 is formed with a long straight slot 73, which receives a pin 74:, projecting from one of the collars 4:7 on the sliding rod or shaft 45. Therefore when the last portion of the swinging movement of the disk-restoring yoke causes the arm 68 to be depressed, as above described, it will cause the lever 7 0 to oscillate and carry the rod 15 and the pawl-releasing dog over to the extreme right from the position shown in Fig. 7 thus setting the pawl-releasing dog 4 1 with its tooth in engagement with the right-hand tooth of the ratchet 51.

It will now be understood that when a key 28 is depressed it causes the release of a typedisk through the medium of the radiallymoving frame and the lateral swing or movement of the pawl-actuating rod 13, so as to lift out of engagement with one of the disks the end of the pawl 24 for the particular disk which is to be rotated by its spring 18, according to the position which the dog 4:4: occupies lengthwise of the rod 4E3. At the same time the inward movement of the plate 32, carried by the particular key, results in limiting the rotating movement of that disk by the contact of the stop-lug 33 with said plate 32, and after the requisite number of disks have been rotated to position for setting up a particular line of type and after the printing has been performed as many times as may be desired the operation of the crank 59 in the manner hereinbefore described will cause the return of all of the type-disks to the starting or normal point and at the same time shift the sliding rod 45 and the pawl-releasing dog 14C to its starting or nor- .mal point.

I will now describe the means for applying ink to the characters of the type-disks. Referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 1, 75 represents a yoke, the side bars of which are hung upon the rod 22. In order that this yoke may be readily removed, I have constructed it, as shown in Figs. 3 and 1, with laterally-opening slots, which receive the rod 22, hook-shaped latches 76 being pivoted to the upper ends of the side bars of the yoke and closing the slots thereof, so as to retain the yoke on the rod 22. The yoke 75 is normally held in the position shown by a spring or springs 77 coiled around the rod 22 and having its upper end secured at a suitable fixed point and having its lower end bearing against a pin 7 8, projecting from the side bar of the yoke. The upper end of one of the side bars of the yoke is formed with a wing 7 9, to the upper portion of which a tappet-arm 80 is pivoted at 81. Said wing 79 also carries a fixed pin 82, which prevents movement of the tappet-arm toward the left in Fig. 4 relatively to the yoke. Pivoted to the wing 79 at 83 is a plate 84:, having a stud-pin 85. A two-part link 86 is pivoted at 87 to the plate 8 1 and has its lower end pivoted at 87 to the side of the ink-pad frame 88. The said ink-pad frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, is formed with a rearwardlyextending arm 89, having a pin 90, which extends between guide-ribs 91, formed on the inner wall of one of the side plates of the frame. These guide-ribs are so formed that when the ink-pad frame is swung forward, as hereinafter described, the engagement of the pin 90 in the groove formed between said ribs is such that the ink-pad frame is oscillated to throw the inking portion of the pad upward against the line of type. In order to enable the ink-pad frame to follow these movements yieldingly, the link 86 is formed in two parts, one guided upon the other, as by means of pins or screws projecting from one through elongated slots in the other, a spring 92 being employed to normally shorten said link.

Mounted in the side walls of the frame of the machine and near the bottom thereof is a rock-shaft 93, having a crank 9 1, which may be operated by hand or which may be operated through the medium of a treadle, (not shown,) and a connecting-rod 95. (See Fig. 2.) The rock-shaft is held in normalposition by means of a spring 96, coiled around it and having one end engaged under a fixed pin or rod 97, extending across between the two side walls or plates of the frame, the other end of said spring engaging under a set-screw 98, engaged with said shaft. .This said screw also serves to secure to the rock-shaft 93 a lever 99, having a short arm 100, formed with a lateral stud-pin 101 for a purpose hereinafter described. The upper end of the long arm of the lever 99 is formed with an inclined face 102. When the rock-shaft is operated to swing the lever 99 toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 4, the inclined face 102 first engages the end of the tappet-arm 80, and, owing to the fact that the pin 82 projects from the wing '79 of the yoke back of said tzippet-arm, continued movement of the lever 99 in this direction swings the yoke forward on the rod 22 as a center. The inkpad frame 88 is pivoted at 103 between the side bars of the yoke 7 5, and since the pin 90 is guided by ribs 91 the forward end of the ink-pad frame swings upward as it moves forward under the typewheels. This for- IIC wardswinging movement also causes the link So to oscillate the plate 84 on its pivot 83, swinging the stud-pin 85 of said plate downward to a position considerably lowerthan that shown in Fig. at. As the upper end of the lever 99 moves under the tappet-arm 80 the end of the said tappet-arm 80 rides across the top of the lever 99, after which the inclined face 102 of the lever 99 comes into engagement with the stud-pin 85 and swings the latter upward again upon its pivot 83, so as to bring the forward end of the pad up against the type to ink them. Upon the return movement of the lever 99 its upper end carries the tappet-arm 80 freely backward, the latter swinging on its pivot 87, and after the lever has resumed its normal position (shown in Fig. 1) the tappet-arm 80 drops to 'its normal position as shown in said figure. The ink-pad is removably connected with It comprises a block 101, hav- The the frame 88. mg a suitable ink-carrying facing 105.

block is formed with a groove 106 in its? under face to receive a rod 107. which extends across between the two side bars of the. ink-pad frame 88. Pivoted to the underside of the block 101 (see Fig. 5) are two latches 108, the pivots being indicated at 109, the 1 This spring normally holds frame of the machine. The said arm 119 is provided with a toe 121. resting under the edge of the portion of the frame which carries the bracket, to which the frame is pivoted. The arm 119 is removable from the bracket and is locked thereto by means of a latch 122. By removing th arm 119 and the pad 118 ink maybe readily applied to the latter and it and the arm returned to position. Owing to the pivotal connection of the arm 119 with its support, the said pad 118 yields when the pad-block passes up under it, and therefore the ink is rubbed or smeared between the two pads.

As described, the operation of the crank 91, either by hand or by the treadle referred to, swings the inking-pad forward and then backward to apply ink to the type characters that 1 have been assembled in a line, and then after the upper end of the lever 99 has passed the tappet-arm 80and the stud-pin the spring 71' causes the inking apparatus to retreat to its normal position. (Shown in Fig. 1.) I will mention here that the facing 105 of the ink-pad block is preferably formed with a groove near its forward edge, as indicated in Fig. st, so that any surplus ink will not be rubbed forward between the two inking-pads.

l It is to be understood that it is only the portion of the facing 105 that is in front of said 95 groove that contacts with the type. The forward-swinging movement of the inking apparatus and its release and retreat occurs during the first portion of the downward movement of the crank 91. Further movement of the crank in the same direction effects the carrying of the piece of goods to be marked against the inked type. it being understood that the type-disks remain set for as many operations of the crank 9121s there are pieces of apparel belongingto that particular customer.

A spring 112 normally holds the block in the position shown in Fig. 5, said spring being connected to one of the side bars of the frame 88. Mounted in the other side bar of the frame 88 is a rotary double cam 113, having a ratchet 111. A pin 115, projectingfrom the edge of the pad-block, is pressed against the cam by the spring '112. tated step by step as the pad-frame swings by means of a pawl 116, (see Fig. 3,) said pawl being pivoted at 117 to the yoke above the pivotal pin 10?) of the latter with the ink-pad frame. it will therefore be understood that as the yoke and ink-pad frame swing back and forth the pawl 116 is given a slight forward-and-lmck movement relatively to the ink-pad frame 88, and so causes the cam to be given a step-by-step rotation to effect the gradual feed of the ink-pad block across the frame 88, and thereby prevent the pad from repeatedly presenting the same portions of its surface to the type.

In order that the ink upon the facing 105 of the ink-pad block may be spread about upon the latter, as well as applied thereto. I employ an ink spreading and supplying pad 118, loosely pivoted to the end of an arm 11.9,

The cam is roj 1 will now describe the means for carrying the goods against the type.

The platen 123, which carries or lifts the article to be marked upward against the line of type, consists, preferably, of a strip or block of rubber. It is carried by the forward end of a yoke-shaped platen-frame 124:, said frame being pivotally mounted upon the fixed rod 97 and being preferably sufficiently heavy to readily drop after it has been raised. As indicated in Figs. and at, the forward end of the platen-frame drops into a recess formed in the base 10. The platen-frame is lifted by the engagement with the under side thereof of the stud-pin 101, projecting laterally from the short arm 100 of the lever 99. Preferably, as indicated in Fig. 3, the crank-sha ft 93 is pivoted with a crank-arm 100 having a stud-pin 101 1 adapted to engage under the side of the platenframe opposite to the one shown in Fig. 1. The two stud-pins 101 and 101 act to lift the platen-frame so that the platen 123 will press the article against the type during the last portion of the downward movement of the crank 9 1,as hereinbefore referred to. Secured to one side bar of the platen-frame, as shown in Fig. 3, is a rigid arm 125, having its upper end bent laterally, as indicated by dotted lines in said figure. The upper end of the arm 125 is in the plane of the swinging movement of one side of the yoke 75, and as long as the platen-frame is in its normal or lower position the upper end of the arm 125 lies beyond the limit of the inward-swinging movement of the yoke 75. If, however, the printing-mechanism yoke 75 should fail to be swung outward by its retracting-spring, the succeeding positive upward movement of the platenframe, due to the action of the rising studpins 101 and 101 causes the upper end of the rigid arm 125 to contact with the yoke 75 and forces it to retreat, so as to carry the inking-pad out of the path of the rising platen and the article being lifted thereby. Of course after the article has been inked and the crank 91 released the said crank returns to its normal position and the platen drops.

To properly guide the article to position above the platen, I preferably apply a guideplate 126 to the base of the machine, as inclicated in Fig. 1. For convenience said guideplate is omitted in Figs. 3 and 1.

To prevent the article from coming into contact with other type than those which have been set in alinement for marking, I provide a shield 127, having a raised portion 128, said raised portion being provided with an opening, as represented in Fig. 1. The platen 123 bends or curves a small portion of the article upward through the opening in the shield to press it against the inked type. As indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4, the shield is carried by the forward end of the arm 129,

secured to a yoke 130, pivoted upon the rod 97. As also indicated in said Figs. 3 and 4, the arm 129 of the shield normally rests upon the shaft 93, so that when the machine is in normal position the shield proper is held elevated above the platen to leave room for the insertion of the article between the platen and the shield. The first upward movement of the platen-frame causes the platen to raise the article against the under side of the shield and then carry the shield upward until the edge of the shield contacts with a suitable stop, which may comprise the plate 131, which protects and incloses the lower portions of the type-disks. The slight final upward movement of the platen-frame then pushes a small portion of the article against the type characters.

In order that the operation of the platenframe by the stud-pins may be somewhat elastic or yielding, I may secure springs 132 to the under surfaces of the two sidesof the platen-frame to receive the impact of the studpins 101 and 101 Some laundrymen prefer to mark the goods of their customers not only with initials or names or numerals to indicate the ownership of the goods, but to also apply some private mark or character of their own. this to be done with a machine of this'characr" ter, I prefer to mount a private-mark-type carrier in addition to the settable type-disks hereinbefore described. Referring to Figs. 2 and 1, a wheel,which may carry a plurality of different private marks or symbols, is repsented at 133. This wheel or type-disk is mounted so that it may be rotatably adjusted upon a pivot-pin 134:, suitably supported by the frame of the machine. is provided with a plurality of holes or recesses 135, adapted to receive a pin 136, carried by the free end of a spring plate or arm 137, secured to a suitable portion of the frame at 138. By raising the pin 136 out of the hole or recess engaged thereby the laundryman may rotatably adjust the wheel 133 to bring the characters of the main type-wheels any particular private mark or type that is carried by the periphery of said wheel 133. This private-mark wheel or disk may be left permanently in any position desired, its rotation not being effected by the rotative setting of any of the main disks.

It is to be understood that by the term type or types employed in the claims I do not mean to be restricted to devices for imprinting or marking either letters, numerals, or symbols, it being obvious that type characters of any kind may be employed. As stated, however, I prefer to employ on the main type-disks both letters and numerals and a period.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that some of the key-heads are supplied with both letters and numerals. It is to be understood that the type-disks which carry numerals or signs are separate from those which carry letters, and the selection of a particular disk to be rotated will be understood by the fol lowing: If the key-head bearing the charac' ters I and 9 in Fig. 1 be depressed, the

'letter-bearing disk or numeral-bearing disk to be released thereby will depend upon the position of the pawl-releasing dog 4 1 (see Fig. 7) lengthwise of the actuating-rod 13. Referring to said Fig. 7, it may be supposed that the disks at the right' carry only letter characters and periods, while the disks at the left have numeral characters. If the dog 14 is at the right when the key-head having the I and 9 characters is depressed, a letter-carrying disk will be rotated and set, while if said dog be at the left (shown in Fig. 7) the wheel to be released will be a numeral-carrying wheel, the operations respectively setting either the letter I or the numeral ,9.

To prevent the operation of the machine to print or mark until the article to be marked is inserted to the proper point, I provide means which I will now describe. Referring To enable I The wheel or disk into alinement with the printing position of 7 to Fig. 1, a locking plate or arm 139 is piving a too 111. platen-'t'rame 121 is provided with a pin, (indidicated at 112 by dotted lines,) and a spring 113, connected to the locking-arm 139 and to a suitable portion ot' the frame, tends to normally hold the locking-arm with its lower end engaged by the pin 112, the toe 111 preventing the spring 11?) from forcing the lockingarm too tar toward the left in Fig. 1. The locking-arm 139 is provided with a portion extending forward and bent to form a faceplate 111, (see also Fig. 1,) said face-plate normally standing in the position represented. so as to be engaged by the edge of the collar (1 or other article that is to be marked. Unless the face-plate 111 is pushed against sutticiently to cause the lower end of the arm 139 to leave the pin 112 the platen-frame 121 cannot be raised.

In the operation of the machine after the type-disks have been set as has been described they remain in their set position during as many operations of the inking and printing parts as may be desired, each article beingin turn inserted al ove the plate 126 and below the shield 12? until its farther-edge presses the faceplate 111 backward, so as to release the locking-arm from the pin 112-. The operation of the crank 91 will then be unobstructed, so that the printing, as well as the inking, be completed. After the desired number of articles have been successively introduced and marked the operation of the crank 59, as hereinbe't'ore described, causes the return of all of the type-disks to their normal positions and also causes the return of the pawl-releasing dog 11 over to the extreme rightot Fig. 7.

Inasmuch as I have described the operation of the several parts of the machine while proceeding with the description of the said parts and their construction, the operation of the machine as a whole will be readily understood without further description.

Having now described my invention, one of the embodiments of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, although Without attempting to point out such obvious changes as might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and without attempting to point out all of the uses to which it may be put, what I claim is-- 1. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated disks having types permanently carried thereby, detents for holding the disks against rotation, and means for releasing individual disks, and a platen to support the article to be marked by said disks.

In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated disks having types permanently carried thereby, detents for holding the disks against rotation, and means for simultaneously releasing any one of the disks and may 1 One of the side plates of the presenting a stop to limit its amount of rotation, and a platen to support the article to be marked by said disks.

3. In a marking-111acl1ine, a plurality of spring-actuated disks having types permanently carried tl1ereby,detents for holding the disks against rotation, a plurality of lingerkeys each operatively connected with a stop to limit the rotation of a disk according to the key that is actuated, and means for automatically releasing any one of the detents upon the actuation of a key, and a platen to support the article to be marked by said disks.

1. In a marking-machine, a purality of spring-actuated type-d isks,detents for holding the disks against rotation, a pl urality of fingerkcys each operatively connected with a stop to limit the rotation of a disk according to the key that is actuated, a detentreleaser movable i'rom one detent to another, and means for operating said releaser upon the actuation of a key.

In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated type-disks, detents for holding the disks against rotation, a plurality of linger-keys each operatively connected with 5 a stop to limit the rotation of a disk according to the key that is actuated, a detent-releaser movable from one detent to another, means for operating said releaser upon the actuation of a key, and means for moving said releaser from one detent to another independently of a key.

6. In a marking-machino, a plurality of spring-actuated disks having types permanently carried thereby, detents for holding the disks against rotation, means for releasing individual disks to present a line of selected type, and means for inking the line of type.

T. A marking-machine comprising a plurality of spring-actuated disks having types permanently carried thereby, means under the control of finger-keys for setting the disks successively to present'a line of selected type, and means for skippmg the operation of any one of the disks to leave a space in the line of type.

8. Amarking-machine comprising a plurality of spring-actuated disks having types permanently carried thereby, means under the control of linger-keys for setting the disks successively to present a line of selected type, means for skipping the operation of any one of the disks to leave a space in the line of type, and means for inking the line of type.

9. A marking-machine comprising a plurality of type-disks, means under the control of finger-keys for setting the disks successively to present selected type in a line, means for spacing the type selected, means for returning the set disks to starting position, and means for automatically shifting the diskselecting mechanism back to the startingposition.

10. A marking-machine including in its con' struction a plurality of spring-actuated settable type-carriers, a private-mark carrier for presenting a laundrymans mark adjacent to the characters borne by the settabletype-carriers, and a platen to support the article to be marked by said carriers.

11. Amarking-machine includingin its construction a plurality of spring-actuated settable type-carriers, an adjustable Wheel adjacent thereto and having a series of privatemark symbols on its periphery, and a platen to support the article to be marked by said carriers. 7

12. A marking-machine comprising a plurality of spring-actuated settable type-disks, a private-mark wheel adjacent thereto, means under the control of finger-keys for setting the disks, means for automatically applying ink to the set line of type and the adjacent private mark, and a platen to support the article to be marked by said disks and wheel.

13. A marking-machine comprising a plurality of spring-actuated settabletype-carriers having letter and numeral types, a private-mark carrier for presenting a laundrymans mark adjacent to the characters borne by the settable type-carriers, means under the control of finger keys for setting the said type-carriers, and a platen to support the article to be marked by said settable type-carriers and private-mark carrier.

14:. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated disks having types permanently carried thereby, a plurality ofmovable finger-keys having means for restricting their movements to a uniform amount of degree, means controlled by said finger-keys for actuating the type-disks, and a platen to support the article to be marked by said disks.

15. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated disks having types permanently carried thereby, means for setting said disks at variable rotative adjustments, means for simultaneously returning all of the disks to normal or starting position, and a platen to support the article to be marked by said disks.

16. A marking-machine comprising a plurality of settable type-carriers mounted in a stationary frame carrying a platen movable toward and from the type-carriers for applying an article to be marked to the type, and means for preventing movement of the platenframe until the article to be marked has been placed in proper position.

17. A marking-machine comprising a plurality of settable type-carriers mounted in a stationary frame, means for automatically inking the set lineof type, a frame carrying a platen movable toward and from the typecarriers for applying an article to be marked to the type, and means for preventing movement of the platen-frame until the article to be marked has been placed in proper position.

18. In amarking-machine, akeyboard comprising inner and outer curved plates having openings, keys movable in and guided by said openings. a plurality of settabletype-disks below said keyboard and concentric therewith, means under the control of the keys for automatically setting the disks, and direct c0- acting stop devices carried by the keys and disks.

19. In a marking-machine, a plurality of settable type-disks having stop-lugs, a curved keyboard adjacent to the peripheries of the disks, keys movable through said keyboard, each key having a radial plate at its inner end. and means operated by the depression of either key for releasing one of the disks.

20. In a markingkmachine, a plurality of disks having types permanently carried thereby and having hubs, a spring for each disk connected at one end to the hub of a disk, keycontrolled means for releasing individual disks and limiting their rotation by the springs, and a platen to support the article to be marked by said disks.

21. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated type-disks having portions of their peripheries toothed, detent-pawls engaging the teeth of the disks, a pawl-releasing dog movable from one to another of the pawls, and key-controlled means for operating the dog.

22. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated type-disks having portions of their peripheries toothed, detent-pawls engaging the teeth of the disks, a pawl-releasing dog movable from one to another of the pawls, and key-controlled means for operating the dog, and transferring the dog to the next pawl.

23. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated type-disks having portions of their peripheries toothed, detent-pawls engaging the teeth of the disks, a pawl-releasing dog movable from one to another of the pawls, and key-controlled means for operating the dog.

24. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated type-disks, detents for holding the disks against rotation, a .detent-releasing dog. a frame radially movable relatively to the axis of the disks, connections whereby movements of said frame actuate said dog, and finger-keys for moving said frame.

25. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated type-disks, detents for holding the disks against rotation, a detent-releasing dog, a frame radially movable relatively to the axis of the disks, connections whereby movements of said frame actuate said dog, finger-keys for moving said frame, stops carried by the disks, and finger-keys each having a plate to depress said frame and to coact with the stop of the released disk.

26. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated type-disks, each having a lug projecting therefrom, key-controlled means for releasing individual disks, and a manually-operable yoke mounted to swing on the axis of the disks and having a cross-bar to engage the lugs of the disks to restore the latter to starting position.

27. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated type-disks, detents for holding the disks against rotation, a sliding rod having a detent-releasing dog, a spring for moving said rod in one direction, key-controlled means for permittin a step-by-step movement of said rod and for actuating the dog to release certain detents successively, means for manually restoring the set disks to the starting position and connections therefrom for returning the sliding rod to its starting position.

28. In a marking-machine, a plurality of settable type-disks, a swinging inking-pad, means for guiding said pad in its swinging movements so that it will first move under the disks, then rise against the said line of type, and then descend and retreat, and means for automaticallyshifting the position of said pad laterally.

29. In a marking-machine, a plurality of settable type-disks, an inking-pad movable toward and from the line of type formed by said disks, and means for moving the pad laterally relatively to its support, with a stepby-step movement, a spring being employed for returning the pad to its initial position.

30. In a marking-machine, a plurality of settable type-disks, a swinging yoke, an inkpad frame carried by said yoke, an ink-pad mounted to move laterally in said frame and having a spring pressing it laterally, a cam and ratchet mounted in the frame the cam being adapted to actuate the pad laterally, and a pawl engaging the ratchet and pivoted to the said yoke above the connection of the latter with said frame.

31. In a marking-machine, a plurality of settable type-disks, a movable pad-carrying frame having a cross-bar, and an inking-pad having a groove fitting said cross-bar and provided with latches to removably hold said pad in engagement with said cross-bar.

32. In a marking-machine, a plurality of settable type-disks, a movable inking-pad for applying ink to the said line of type, and an automatically-movable ink supplying and spreading pad resting upon said inking-pad.

33. In a marking-machine, a plurality of spring-actuated settable disks having types permanently carried thereby, means for ink ing the said line of type, and a manually-operable platen-frame for carrying the article to be marked against the inked type.

34. In a marking-machine, a plurality of settable type-disks, aswinging ink-pad-carrying frame, and a manually-operable frame carrying a platen and having a rigid arm adapted to engage a portion of the ink-pad mechanism to forcibly cause the retraction of the latter.

35. In a marking-machine, a plurality of settable typedisks,'means for inking the said line of type, a frame carrying a platen movable toward and from the type, and a shield interposed between the platen-frame and said disks and movable with the platen toward and from the disks and having an opening to permit the platen to press a portion of the article against said type.

36. In a marking-machine, a plurality of settable type-disks mounted in a stationary frame, a movable frame carrying a platen, and a locking-arm adapted to engage a portion of said platen-frame to prevent it from being raised until said locking-arm is disengaged from the platen-frame by the introduction of the article to be marked.

37. In a marking-machine, a plurality of settable type-disks, and a private-mark wheel having a series of holes or recesses, and a spring-arm having a portion adapted to engage in one of said holes or recesses to hold the private-mark wheel in fixed relation relatively to the type-disks.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. HUME.

Witnesses:

H. Josnrn DOYLE, J. FRED KELLEY. 

